I read in a book that white vinegar will keep away mosquitos. It works incrediblty well. I spritz my skin, hair, and clothes with a water/vinegar mix 9same as I use for cleaning) before I go out. I am an absolute mosquito magnet and have a wetland behind my house and with the vinegar the mosquitos don't bite (they still fly around me a little bit). I don't smell very good and have to shower before bed, but it's worth it. Plus, if I used any other bug repellent I would also smell bad.

I was just reading an article on sensible dandelion controls, I don't have a problem with dandelions but I do think that it is bad spraying chemicals to get rid of weeds.

From the site:

"Homeowners apply up to 10 times more chemicals per acre than farmers do. Common lawn pesticides and fertilizers have been linked to various types of cancer, neurological damage, and Parkinson's disease. They're also the leading cause of accidental pet poisoning. Once the stuff is in your yard, your family will track it into the house on their shoes, where it settles into the carpets and cracks in the floor."

Yikes . . . there are never dandelions where we rent or the park where I take DS to play so I assume that they must spray. Yuck. Anyway I realize this seems to be super off topic but I mention because the site Good Home Tips mentioned that "Straight distilled vinegar is an effective and economical solution to controlling dandelions, one gallon or 128 fl oz. cost about $3.99. " Just thought I would pass that on for anyone.

I was just reading an article on sensible dandelion controls, I don't have a problem with dandelions but I do think that it is bad spraying chemicals to get rid of weeds.

From the site:

"Homeowners apply up to 10 times more chemicals per acre than farmers do. Common lawn pesticides and fertilizers have been linked to various types of cancer, neurological damage, and Parkinson's disease. They're also the leading cause of accidental pet poisoning. Once the stuff is in your yard, your family will track it into the house on their shoes, where it settles into the carpets and cracks in the floor."

Yikes . . . there are never dandelions where we rent or the park where I take DS to play so I assume that they must spray. Yuck. Anyway I realize this seems to be super off topic but I mention because the site Good Home Tips mentioned that "Straight distilled vinegar is an effective and economical solution to controlling dandelions, one gallon or 128 fl oz. cost about $3.99. " Just thought I would pass that on for anyone.

Thanks again for the bug spray tip.

This thread is so timely for me! I just too found out about the vinegar bug spray thing and was so excited. I almost sprayed my yard with it so I wouldn't have to stink, but my very smart hubby looked it up on the internet and found out it's also a natural vegetation killer! He saved our lawn!

I was just reading an article on sensible dandelion controls, I don't have a problem with dandelions but I do think that it is bad spraying chemicals to get rid of weeds.

From the site:

"Homeowners apply up to 10 times more chemicals per acre than farmers do. Common lawn pesticides and fertilizers have been linked to various types of cancer, neurological damage, and Parkinson's disease. They're also the leading cause of accidental pet poisoning. Once the stuff is in your yard, your family will track it into the house on their shoes, where it settles into the carpets and cracks in the floor."

Yikes . . . there are never dandelions where we rent or the park where I take DS to play so I assume that they must spray. Yuck. Anyway I realize this seems to be super off topic but I mention because the site Good Home Tips mentioned that "Straight distilled vinegar is an effective and economical solution to controlling dandelions, one gallon or 128 fl oz. cost about $3.99. " Just thought I would pass that on for anyone.

Our yard was pretty bad starting out, so it took several hour long sessions to get the bulk of them out. Now I just pull one or two out every other week or so. I've left the little bit of clover and wild strawberries and violets that are in the lawn and just removed the dandelions and tall aggressive weeds. No chemicals and the lawn looks great!